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The Cambodian Genocide

INTRODUCTION OF THE SELECTED ITEMS
Among academic authors who produced comprehensive analyses of the Cambodian genocide are Ben Kiernan and David P. Chandler. Their works are not included in the following selections but they are available in the library. The four resources that I selected for this libguide are
works by and/or about the survivors of the genocide. The selections are not comprehensive and many similar works can be found in the library as well.


The first one, Miss Rain, is about a woman who one night lost almost her entire family by execution in a forest. She has since refused to return to the forest. With the help of her brother and a monk she is trying to overcome the psychological challenges and come to terms with the
past.


The second, Music through the Dark, is about Daran who lost both his parents and seven siblings. He survived because he played accordion and his captors enjoyed being entertained by
him.


The third, Cinema of Rithy Panh, is about the celebrated Cambodian filmmaker and his work. Rithy was born into an educated family and he witnessed his parents and siblings forced into labor and eventually die of starvation. He has produced several documentaries including the
last item I selected for this libguide.


The fourth, DUCH: Master of the Forges of Hell, records the meeting of two survivors from opposite sides of the genocide. Rithy Panh directed the documentary in which the imprisoned Duch, the head of S-21 (Tuol Sleng) prison, had to answer questions from the filmmaker from
his prison cell.

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